Volume 15- Issue 11- November
The Road Map
Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Sturgis names VanDewater new Chief of Police tive Institute, through the State Law Enforcement Academy as well as through the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement’s Rural Executive Management Institute.
Photo Credit: Deb Holland Meade County Times
Via the City of Sturgis: Newly named Chief VanDewater has more than seventeen years of law enforcement experience in both county and municipal agencies in South Dakota. He started his law enforcement career as a reserve officer in Hot Springs. He worked for two years with the City of Edgemont and then served five years as Deputy Sheriff for the Fall River Sheriff’s Office. VanDewater started with the City of Sturgis in November 2006 as a patrol officer. He served as a patrol sergeant and lieutenant. For the past three years Geody has served the community as the Assistant Chief of Police. VanDewater has earned the department’s Terry Williams Award. He has received certificates from the Chief Execu-
VanDewater said, “Chief Bush has done a fantastic job and I am honored to have been selected to be the next Chief of the Sturgis Police Department. The Department has amazing officers who go above and beyond to serve our community. I am looking forward to getting out and engaging more with the community.”
City Manager Daniel Ainslie stated, “I have worked with Geody in his capacity as Assistant Chief. I am very confident in Geody’s ability to lead the Sturgis Police Department. I know that Geody will provide the leadership necessary for the Sturgis Police Department to continue to provide the safe, effective community policing that our residents expect.”
Ward 4 Councilperson and former law enforcement professional Adam Martin commented, “Geody’s years of law enforcement experience and his commitment to the community of Sturgis make him the natural choice to replace Chief Bush. Geody’s leadership within the Department has proven to be a strong asset for our community.
The Council and I are excited as he takes on this new role.”
VanDewater and his wife Jayme live and work in the Sturgis community and have two children, Jarrod and Kaitie. As Assistant Chief, he has partnered closely with the local non -profit Action for the Betterment of the Community. VanDewater is an avid mountain bike rider and volunteers personally for the Black Hills Trails organization. VanDewater’s candidacy for Chief is also highly recommended by various stakeholders within the Sturgis community. The City would like to extend special thanks to Councilor Martin, Chief Pat Rotert of the Spearfish Police Department, Kasey Sorensen with the Meade County State Attorney’s office, and Tammy Brock with the local non-profit agency Crisis Intervention Shelter Service (CISS) for their assistance in the selection process.
Thank you, Chief Bush, for all your years of service and congratulations on your promotion, Chief VanDewater. We look forward to working with you!
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Community News
Sturgis Joins Black Hills Library Consortium
Via the City of Sturgis - A new era of cooperation and sharing between public libraries in the State of South Dakota is underway. First formed on July 16 of this year, the Black Hills Library Consortium will take their first collaborative steps on November 2, 2015. On that date, the public libraries in Spearfish, Sturgis and Rapid City will be linked through their online catalogs. This effort will allow patrons to access to all
the materials available in collaborative collections, resulting in a broad network of resource sharing. In December of this year, the public libraries in Deadwood, Lead, Whitewood, and Keystone will be joining the consortium. The libraries in Custer, Hermosa, Piedmont, Edgemont and Wall will be joining the consortium in January. The new online catalog, called Koha, will improve patron’s ex-
periences by making it easier to access public catalogs via any mobile device, share favorite books on Facebook and Twitter accounts, save searches and receive alerts when new materials arrive. The transition to Sturgis’ new system will begin on October 30 when all of current information will be brought over to the new system. The Sturgis Library staff will be available to help library patrons get started using the new and improved system. For more information contact the Sturgis Public Library by calling 347-2624.
New Residential Development breaks ground in Sturgis Via SEDC - Canyon View Estates broke ground in October on a new residential development.
The City of Sturgis provided TIF financing for the project to Rapid City developer Sharaf 2 Properties, LLC. Developer Hani Shafai The 19-unit, 5-acre development states, “Canyon View Estates consists of a cul-de-sac with five would not happen without coopsingle family homes, as well as, eration between the City of Sturseven twin homes. Prices will gis and the Sturgis community. start at $175,000. It adjoins the Through the City and SEDC, we Black Hills National Forest and learned of the local housing will have a public access recreashortage. We immediately began tional trail leading directly from working with them to create a it to forest service land. Site residential project that is both work will begin immediately to visually pleasing and price conhave utilities in place this fall in scious. We are excited to bring order to have paving and conour years of development experistruction begin in the spring. Finence to Sturgis, and anticipate ished homes will be available in that this will be the first of many late summer or early fall 2016. Sturgis projects for us.”
Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie adds, “Canyon View Estates will be a great addition to Sturgis. The high-quality houses conveniently situated in the high growth area of Exit 32 will offer much needed homes for our growing community.” SEDC President Pat Kurtenbach states, “Canyon View Estates promises to be a unique, welldesigned residential development ideally suited to our growing community. We thank the developers for their investment in Sturgis.”
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Sierra Vista Apartment Homes near opening
Via SEDC - This 16-unit property is the first phase of a 48-unit multi-family residential complex developed by Dane Goetz, owner of Baron Properties. Sierra Vista is a 2-story facility featuring 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom units ranging in size from 800 - 1,800 sq. ft. The apartment homes offer an open floor concept, several of which are ADA accessible. These upscale, market-rate lease units are furnished with all major appliances including dishwasher, garbage disposal, electric range, microwave hood, side-byside refrigerator with water & ice dispenser, full size washer and dryer. Each unit also features individually controlled heat and air conditioning, outdoor living space with either a back patio or deck, and granite countertops in the bath. Monthly lease rates range from $780 $1,000 and include all utilities except electricity and communications. The entire facility is pet-friendly. Over half of the units are already pre-leased. The property will be managed by Jenni Tucker, owner of Help-U-Rent, a professional rental property management company located at 1238 Main Street,
Suite 3, Sturgis. For leasing information contact Jenni at 605-722-7368 or jenni@help-u-rent.net.
Baron Properties has over 12 years of real estate rental experience in Spearfish. Developer Dane Goetz states, “Our goal is to provide a clean, comfortable, and safe living environment for our tenants. We see the growth going on in Sturgis and believe the Sierra Vista complex will be a very good fit for the community.” Baron Properties purchased the property from the Sturgis Economic Development Corp (SEDC) in 2014 after learning the results of a housing study commissioned by the City and SEDC that outlined the housing shortage in Sturgis.
SEDC President Pat Kurtenbach states, “Sierra Vista Sturgis will be a great asset to our community. It will help fill a gap identified by the recent housing study. Its location near the elementary school, as well as, easy access to amenities and I-90, make it a perfect spot to welcome new families to our community.”
Membership News
Canyon View Estates 925 Pine View Drive Sturgis, SD 57785 Groundbreaking (10/27)
New Member Help-U-Rent
1238 Main Street, Suite 3 Sturgis, SD help-u-rent.net
Renewing Members
Speedy Lube Certified Folder Display Service Inc
Thank you. You make what we do possible.
Upcoming Events
(for full list see the enclosed insert)
11/6 - Wine & Stein Boulder Canyon Convention Center
11/7 - Sturgis Rally Charties Funding Request Due
11/10 - Olive Branch Masonic Lodge Open House & Mixer 3747 Whitewood Service Road - 5-7 11/11 - Veteran's Day Chamber Closed
11/13 - Chamber Board Election Ballots Due
11/17 - Rockingtree Floral Holiday Mixer 1340 Lazelle St - 5-7 11/19 - Rushmore Office Supply Mixer 815 Junction Ave - 4-7 11/25-26 - Thanksgiving Holiday Chamber Closed
11/27 - Small Business Saturday - Watch for Details 12/4-5 - Winter Frostival
Our best wishes and congratulations to Paul Bisson on his retirement from Wells Fargo after 35 years. You will be missed.
2040 Junction Avenue - Sturgis, SD 57785 Phone - 605.347.2556 Web - SturgisAreaChamber.com
Return Service Requested
U.S. POSTAGE PRESORTED STANDARD RATE PERMIT NO. 10 STURGIS, SD 57785
Staff Executive Director, Heidi Kruse Events & Membership Coordinator, Kathy Christenson Membership Services Manager, Rainee Lisko
Board of Directors President, Jerrid Goebel, Sturgis Chiropractic Past Pres, Ken Meirose, Black Hills Power Vice Pres, Brice Rock, Pioneer Bank & Trust Treasurer, Heidi Richter, Richters Tire & Exhaust Kelly Keffeler, Farm Credit Services of America Jeremy Vliem, First Western Insurance Chad Legner, Wells Fargo Bank J.D. Williams, First Interstate Bank Mark Schulte, Sturgis Regional Hospital
Ex-Officio Board Members Don Kirkegaard: Meade School 46-1 Representative Bob Bertolotto: Meade Co Commissioner Pat Kurtenbach: SEDC Daniel Ainslie, City of Sturgis Rick Bush: City of Sturgis Tacy Snyder: Ag Representative David Hersrud: City Council Liaison
Thank you to our 2015 Platinum & Premium Sponsors. Your support is essential to our work in the Sturgis Community.
Thank you to all you made the Chamber’s Crypt a success.
Volunteers: SBHS Drama students (acting, building) I Chamber Board (admissions) I Campbell Supply (building) I Sturgis Optimists (generous donation & admissions) Events sponsors: Sturgis Optimists I Scott Peterson Motors First Interstate Bank I Pioneer Bank & Trust I KBHB KOTA I EasyRiders Saloon I Campbell Supply And all who dared to enter.